Switch-handle.



o. W. EISENMANN.-

SWITCH HANDLE.

.111121101111011 FILED 001.7, 1911.

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zfff/ ez 1 i fz# 1 Patented May 7, 1912.

UNTTED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

CARL W. EISENMANN, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO'THE'PERKINS ELECTRIC SWITCH MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F BRIDGEIORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPO- RATION OF CONNECTICUT.

SWITCH-HANDLE.

Application led October 7, 1911. Serial No. 653,391.

Specification ot Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 1912.

thehandle and the switch spindle by means of which the thumb piece may be positioned in definite .desired relationto the position of the switch blades after the handle has been at-tached to ,thel switch.

Exemplary embodiments of my invent-ion are shown in the accompanying drawing in which,

Figure 1 isa vertical section through a switch handle; Fig. 2 is a perspective vof certain parts thereof detached; Figs. 3 and 4: are vertical sections through other formsof switch handle.

As ordinarily constructed the position of the thumb piece or key of a rotary switch after the handle has been` secured in position, bears no predetermined particular relation to the position of' the contact blades of the switch mechanism and". it is consequently impossible to tell anything about the position of theI switch contacts/from the position of .the thumb piecei` Indicating dials mounted on the switch'spindle or other indicating devices of similar nature have consequently been employed commonly for the purpose of disclosing whether `or not the switch blades are in the on or off position; i

vByfmy present invention the necesslty for such a dial or other indicating device is eliminatedyfby so constructing the switch handle that after it has beenv secured in position its thumb piece may be rotarily adjusted to a position in definite relation to the switch contacts so that its position will indicate with precision the on or oit condition of the switch. This" may be accomplished in -various ways and .I have illustrated merely three exemplary embodiments of the invention. The first of these is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Here the handle comprises the usual winged thumb piece 10 of insulating material, centrally "recessed from below to receive the means for operatively connecting the same to the switch spindle 11. In this example the connection is secured through a metal stem'12 threaded at its lower end to receive the threaded end 13 of the switch spindle. The upper end of the stem 12 is provided with a head 14 having cut around its periphery a series of slots 15 in which engage the opposite upper vertical edges olf a metalyoke 16 embedded in the thumb p1ece 10 and projecting into the .central recess thereof. The lower vertical edges of this yoke are out away at 17 until they are spaced apart a greater distance than the diameter. of the head 14 of the stem. Consequently when the thumb piece is pulled up into the position indicated in dot-ted lines Fig.' 1, the head 14. is disen.- gaged from the yoke 16 and the thumb piece may therefor be freely rotated without actuating the switch spindle, and may be turned to such position in definite relation to the switch blades as may be desired. The

thumb piece is returned to and normally held in actuating engagement with the stem by the coil spring 18 which presses the thumb piece down so that the upper portion of the yoke engages the slotted head 14 of the stem. This spring 18 may be confined in any suitable manner. Here I have shown it compressed between the-washer 19 and the head 14.- As a convenient method of securing the 'washer in position I have made it of slightly greater diameter than the lower ends of the yoke 16 and slotted at 2O so that it may be passed up to the recesses 21 on the opposite sides of the yoke and then turned and seated in the depressions 22 in the lower face of the washer so that itI is held against rotation.

In the example shown in Fig. 3 the thumb piece comprises a met-al disk 23 with diametrical arms 24 bentl down beneath the head 26 of the insulating stem 25 which is screwed onto the switch spindle. A pair of lugs 27 on the upper face'of the head 26 engage opposite recesses in the series 29 in the inner face of the disk 23 and are normally held in engagement by the coil spring 30 in terposed'between the inturned 'lower endsv cylindrical'recess 3l inthe insulating han thus with the switch spindle) by longitudi nally displacing the thumb piece against the action of the coi'l spring the latter serving to return the thumb piece again into actuating engagement with thestein in such a different position as maybe desired in order to definitely relate the position of the thumb piece to the position of the switch blades.

The structures shown are but illustrative embodiments of my invention as will' be readily understood.

I claim as my invention l. A switch handle comprising a thumb piece. means :for securing the same to a. switch spindle and means operative in assembled condition of the parts for rotarily` adjusting saidthunib piece with relation to its'securing means for the purpose described.

2. A switch handle comprising a seciuing stem, an actuatingth'umb piece and a rotarily adjustable actuating connection between said stem and thumb piece operative in assembled condition ot-the parts.

3. A switch handle comprising means for securing ,the same to a switch spindle, and

an actuating member angularly adjustable4 with relation thereto during the undisturbed assembly of the handle upon the switch spindle. 1 i

el.` A switch handle comprising-for secur-A ing the same to a switch spindle, a thumb piece longitudinally and angularly displaceable in assembled condition with relation 'to said spindle and means for locking the saine against angular displacement during part of its longitudinal displacement.

. 5. A switch handle comprising for secur- Vingthe same to a switch spindle, a thumb .piece longitudinally and angularly dis--` placeable lin assembled condition with relation to said spindle and means for locking lthe same against angular displacement duringV partof its longitudinal displacement,l

and means to hold said thumb piece in such locked position.

6.- A switch handle comprising for securing the samel to a switch spindle, a thumb piece longitudinally and angularly displaceable in assembled condition with relation to said spindle and lmeans for locking the same against angular displacement dur-- against relative rotary displacement of said parts operative in assembled condition during only portion ot' said longitudinal displacement, said engagement against relative rotary displacement being operative in various relative rotary positions of the parts.

9. A switch handle comprising a securing stem. an operating thumb piece having limited longitudinal displacement thereon, and a rotarily adjustable engagement against relative rotary displacement operative in assembledcondition during only portion of said limited longitudinal displacement, for the purpose described.

l0. A switch handle comprising a securing stem. an operating thumb piece having limited longitudinal displacementI thereon. and a rotarily adiustableengagei'ncnt against relative rotai.. displacement operative in assembled condition during only portion of said limited longitudinal displaccment, together withmeans for maintaining said parts in the position in which said en gageinent against relative rotary displacement, is operative.

l1. In a switch key, the combination of a stein and a handle therefor. means for preventing the handle from being displaced from said stem when.the handle is moved longitudinally of saidstein and means cairied by said stem and said handle for pci'-` vname to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CARL W. EISENMANN. Witnesses:

ANTON Aimants, BERTHOLD Bormcm. 

